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Dear Editor:
In 1938, the great blues singer Leadbelly, first recorded “The Bourgeois Blues” after writing it following a trip to Washington D.C. in 1937. He went there with folklorist Alan Lomax to protest racial discrimination and segregated housing and restaurants.
Leadbelly influenced singers and groups including Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger & The Weavers, Lonnie Donegan, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Credence Clearwater Revival, The Animals and even Nirvana with Kurt Cobain calling Leadbelly a favorite musician. All these musical greats were sensitive to the cruelty and unfairness of the rich against the poor and whites against minorities.
In “The Bourgeois Blues” Leadbelly expressed his feelings about the racism he and his wife encountered on their Washington D.C. trip. He uses “bourgeois” as a synonym for racist, and it’s sad and even shocking to see how Trump’s Washington D.C., supported by the racists, including the Christian Nationalists, needs to hear and acknowledge the message of “The Bourgeois Blues":
Them white folks in Washington they know how
To call a man a N----- just to see him bow
Lord, it's a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues I'm
Gonna spread the news all around
I tell all the colored folks to listen to me
Don't try to find you no home in Washington, D.C.
'Cause it's a bourgeois town
Uhm, the bourgeois town
I got the bourgeois blues and I'm
Gonna spread the news.
Leadbelly’s message is even more fitting and necessary today with Washington D.C. and the rest of America in the grip of the Trump motivated and supported racist leadership that inspires so many of the Trump Republicans. The American people must stop President Donald Trump, and hopefully the upcoming elections will lead to the downfall of Trump and the demise of the Trump cult.
Michael J. Gorman
7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Valete
People talk about hate in Washington, but that misses the real story.
Millions voted for Trump. They are not a cult, and they are not full of hate. They are tired of lost jobs, open borders, and feel left out by politicians.
Calling half the country racist is an opinion. People disagree on the economy, safety, and the law—that is plain. We need answers, not jabs.
Thursday, September 10 Report this
krell1349
We're now tired of all the lies of the Trump administration and the Iran war. That's the real story, plus the high price of gas and everything else which will be going up even more. Now the cult leader, Trump, proposes a $5,000 payment to all Americans if the Republicans retain control. That's bribery.
Friday, September 11 Report this
Valete
Krell1349, you are a diehard Democrat. Vote Democrat. I hope you get exactly what you vote for in the future.
Friday, September 11 Report this
reenjoe
krell1349, I thought the government handing out money was Socialism. Silly me.
BTW, Sica/Word Man is a diehard Republican voter and unfortunately we're all suffering because we have what he voted for - a needless war, soaring cost of living, an unrestrained Israel turning the Middle East upside down, a nation fighting with its allies and a decimated government lead by incompetent and corrupt leaders.
Friday, September 11 Report this
krell1349
Word Man, you are die hard MAGA, and you are already getting it, with all the lies Trump spewed and you believed. I hope you like the never ending Iran war, the higher prices of gas, soon to be $5.00 a gallon, I think, and higher prices on everything. Plus a $40 trillion national debt. Enjoy!!!!
Saturday, September 12 Report this
Admin
Word Man should not call anyone diehard when he's a die-never Trump supporter. He complains about his arguments being dismissed, but considering his hypocrisy, factual inaccuracies and willingness to repeatedly defend Trump's evil, that's all you can do with his writing.
Saturday, September 12 Report this
Valete
Calling me a die-never-Trump supporter is funny. Trump is a populist. He is changing America. And if that’s factually wrong, prove it. But Democrats can’t. Why? Because Trump is right. He has been right all along.
Tuesday, September 15 Report this